Looking to better respond to increasingly online and mobile customers, 70% of retail executives said their organizations have adopted an omnichannel strategy to link the consumer's in-store experience with the company's website, mobile device application and social media platforms.

Retail executives have more cash, are adding employees and enjoying stronger revenue, but they remain quite guarded longer term, not seeing a complete economic recovery until 2014 or later, according to the 2012 Retail Outlook Survey by audit, tax, and advisory firm KPMG LLP.

Solutions Spotlight

Retailers need to offer more options to deliver merchandise faster — especially if they want to compete with the narrow delivery windows that Amazon and other nimble online players continue to offer. Download this white paper from Chain Store Age and IBM to learn four ways to Improve fulfillment, increase efficiency—and drive sales.